Club also reassigns Wood as one open spot remains on big league club

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates' bullpen picture came into sharper focus on Tuesday morning, when right-handers John Holdzkom and Rob Scahill were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis and Blake Wood was reassigned to the Minor League camp.

Those moves left eight men -- including only one other reliever (Jared Hughes) with a remaining Minor League option -- for a bullpen that has seven seats.

After dedicated offseason regimen, OF ready to shake off rookie season and fulfill potential

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The public and the media, both national and local, clamored for him the first two months of the 2014 season, practically demanding that Gregory Polanco lose his Triple-A training wheels and join the Pirates. In mid-June, Polanco answered the clamor and raised the noise with a big league debut unlike any other in the Pirates' 127-year team history.

And after the introductory 11-game hitting streak, he gradually faded, then completely disappeared, hitting .103 in his last 34 games, starting only four of the team's last 37 games.

A punches-free altercation was sparked by Sean Rodriguez's displeasure at being quick-pitched by Phillies right-hander Kevin Slowey in the fourth inning. Coaches Juan Samuel of the Phillies and Rick Sofield of the Pirates were ejected during the disturbance. Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle drew a later thumb from plate umpire Chad Fairchild for arguing balls and strikes.

Tomlin wants Cutch, Jared Hughes on the Steelers

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By Matt Monagan |

What seemed like an innocent visit by Mike Tomlin to Pirates Spring Training on Monday may have actually had ulterior motives.

In the above video, you can hear the Steelers head coach talking about how the Buccos changed the culture of baseball in Pittsburgh over the past few years and why he supports them. But then, Tomlin begins talking about specific players. Only then do we find out why he's really at McKechnie Field.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Approaching his fifth season as Pirates manager, Clint Hurdle took time out of a typically busy Spring Training day to wax enthusiastically about the 2015 season, and what it might hold for a team looking to take the next step.

MLB.com: As we count down the final days to Opening Day, what best sums up your feelings? Excitement, anticipation, curiosity ... apprehension?

Second baseman's two-run homer in the ninth gives Bucs win over Braves

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Pirates second baseman Jung Ho Kang halted his recent woes with a two-hit performance that was highlighted by the two-run, ninth-inning home run he drilled off Michael Kohn during Sunday afternoon's 4-2 win over the Braves at Champion Stadium.

"A very, very good day at the plate for him," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said of Kang. "He stayed on a breaking ball and lined out hard, singled sharply to center, then got all of that fastball. Nothing can breed confidence like success."

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Whether contractually or just congenially, the Pirates have been committed from Day 1 to having Jung Ho Kang on their season-opening 25-man roster. Korean Baseball Organization position players, as a whole, may be on trial through him. But Kang himself hasn't been on trial in Spring Training.

However, the Bucs have to be both delighted and relieved to have Kang dot some I's and cross some T's of their arrangement. And Kang put a big-time dot on a Michael Kohn pitch in the ninth inning Sunday, sending it far over Champion Stadium's left field fence for a two-run homer that gave the Bucs a 4-2 win.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Charlie Morton put in a claim for his inclusion in Pittsburgh's season-opening rotation with six solid innings, and Gregory Polanco struck his second homer in as many days as the Pirates downed a Toronto split-squad, 8-3, in Grapefruit League play Saturday.

Morton, making his way back from Sept. 26 labrum repair surgery, still could remain in Florida for extended spring training when the Bucs break camp on April 2. But he overcame solo homers by Daric Barton and Danny Valencia to limit Toronto to three runs, allowing six hits and walking two without a strikeout. He finished strong, retiring the last nine men he faced.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates' brain trust typically takes a meeting to discuss personnel decisions, with everyone from manager Clint Hurdle to general manager Neal Huntington involved. They may have to put their heads together on Charlie Morton's season-opening fate.

April 12, in Milwaukee against the Brewers? Or, held over in Florida for a little extra tuneup in extended spring training?

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Polanco, Sanchez both homer to back Locke's solid start

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Gregory Polanco and Tony Sanchez both homered to help carry the Pirates to a 4-2 win over the Twins on Friday at Hammond Stadium. The game was called in the eighth inning due to rain.

Twins right-hander Trevor May, competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, didn't help his cause by giving up seven extra-base hits in 4 2/3 innings, including the homers to Polanco and Sanchez.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Often, Spring Training battles are won on default. Managers and front office executives like it that way, for "players to make the decision for us." The Pirates have certainly experienced plenty of those.

Not this one. Sorry, but Jeff Locke and Vance Worley aren't going to do anyone any favors when it comes to the contested spot in the rotation. And the Bucs couldn't be happier about it.

In meet-and-greet, Manfred praises Pirates brass

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Rob Manfred stopped by Hammond Stadium on Friday to introduce himself to Twins and Pirates players, but Major League Baseball's 10th Commissioner didn't need an introduction to the braintrust that has steered the Buccos back on a winning track.

Pirates chairman Bob Nutting and club president Frank Coonelly both have worked closely in the past with Manfred, and have earned his respect.

Harrison, Walker homer as Bucs rally, then fall to Braves

Worley settles in after five-run first, retiring 13 straight in one stretch

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Walker's solo homer 0:34

3/26/15: Neil Walker hits a solo homer to left, pulling the Pirates within one run in the bottom of the 5th inning

By Adam Berry
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MLB.com |

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Braves jumped out to a big lead in the first inning and beat the Pirates, 7-5, on Thursday afternoon at McKechnie Field.

After the Pirates chipped away at a five-run deficit and eventually tied the game at 5 in the eighth inning, Jonny Gomes led off the ninth with his first Braves homer, a blast to left field off lefty Clayton Richard. Later in the inning, Jesus Flores singled home Chris Johnson to make it 7-5.

Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Richard focusing on contributing, not his opt-out clause

Veteran lefty stretching out and preparing to start, whether with Pirates or other club

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Clayton Richard can opt out of his deal April 1 if he's not on the Bucs' 40-man roster. (Carlos Osorio/AP)

By Adam Berry
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MLB.com |

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Left-hander Clayton Richard's name comes up just about every time Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is asked about his club's rotation depth. It happened again after Richard pitched Thursday against the Braves.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- For several years, Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage and Jim Benedict, a special assistant on general manager Neal Huntington's staff, have earned reputations for restoring pitchers.

When referring to Searage and Benedict, media, industry insiders and fans have thrown around adjectives like "brilliant," "miraculous," "uncanny" and "remarkable." We may have been shortchanging them.

Cutch shaves off dreads for charity

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By Mike Bertha |

Wednesday, March 24 was already shaping up to be one of the saddest days of the Social Media Era, thanks to the (Facebook) official announcement that Zayn Malik had left British pop group One Direction. (We know, we know ... we'll give you a minute.)

BRADENTON, Fla. -- No citizen of Pirates Nation had to pinch himself harder over the team's changed fortunes than broadcaster Greg Brown, who five years ago called the play-by-play of 105 losses.

"A couple of days ago I was reading that Buster Olney of ESPN had [predicted] the Pirates and the Mariners in the World Series and the Pirates beating the Mariners," Brown said. "I actually paused and reread it to make sure. It's an odd feeling for me, but it's a great feeling."

All-Star center fielder played four innings after not playing since March 12

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Steve Pearce ignited a five-run fourth inning with his fifth homer of the spring on Tuesday and the Orioles went on to defeat Pittsburgh, 9-2, in Grapefruit League play.

Pirates All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen played four innings in his return to the lineup after a 12-day layoff with "lower-body soreness." McCutchen went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and smoothly fielded several balls hit his way.